Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative

GOOD NEWS!!!

Approaching TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Always scroll down for updates . . .

Thanks to our own Ed Trach for setting the corner stone for the Playwriting Salon, a milestone in CPI’s thirteen years of existence. We now approaching its 2-year anniversary.

CPI Playwriting Salon is our creative meeting venue.

Unless otherwise noted, the Playwriting Salon, will return every fourth Sunday of the month for a three-hour session, staring at 7:00 PM.

All CPI Informal Cold Readings are incorporated in the new CPI venue, CPI Playwriting Salon.

Our Cold Readings are not the conventional ones.

Although there are no rehearsals, actors receive the scripts ahead of time, and come prepared.

Chair, Sandi Kivkovich

Please e-mail Sandi Kivkovich for reservations: sandikivi2@cinci.rr.com or call (513) 861-0004.

Our Salon is free and open to Members and Nonmembers. It actually works; it draws more people and at every event we get a few to join our ranks.

CPI Playwriting Salon

Reservations are required, and we ask those who come, to bring an appetizer or beverage to share.

Please e-mail Chair Sandi Kivkovich for reservations: sandikivi2@cinci.rr.com

or call (513) 861-0004.

CPI thanks former Guest Speakers.

Kevin Crowley . . Arnie Shayne . Alan Jozwiak . . Renee Alper . . D. Lynn Meyers

Ed Stern . . . Nancy Gall-Clayton . Ken Jones . Joe McDonough . Jackie Demaline

We are grateful to members who give their time to help with the Salon

. .

. . Kalman Kivkovich . . Sandi Kivkovich . . Phil Clayton . .

. . .

. . . Karen Kelly . . . . . . Jeff Landen . . . . . Duncan Forbes. . . . . . . Dennis Blom. . . .

. .

. . . . Fred Rothzeid. . . . . . . . Francis Boyle . . . . . . . . Alan Jozwiak . . . .

Thanks to Irvon Clear for presenting his scripts-in-progress on August 22, 2010.

Thanks to the team of performers: Craig Boldman, Adrianne Underhill, Nick Castle, Casey Campbell, Stuart McNiell, Francis Boyle, Lisa Dirkes, Kat Reynolds, and Blair Godshall.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7 PM – Cold Reading:

Sunday, September 26, 2010, at 7PM – Cold Reading of 2 scripts-in-progress; read by actors.

Presenting Playwrights: Renee Alper and Duncan Forbes

Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 7 PM – Monologue Mixer:

Sunday, October 24, 2010, at 7PM –

Monologue Mixer. Something new at the Salon! A medley of monologues read by talented actors. Q & A to follow.

Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 at 7 PM – Guest Speaker / Party

Sunday, November 28, 2010, at 7PM –

Speaker Cathy Springfield, Director for Performing Arts, Xavier University, and President of League of Cinti Theaters (LCT); part of a Holiday Party.

FREE EVENTS!!!

Call for Reservations

Our location is:

French Hall, University of Cincinnati, 2815 Commons Way (formerly 2824 Scioto Street), corner of W. University Ave. off Jefferson Ave, 4th Floor, Rooms 4614/4616.

Directions:

It is on the East side of West UC campus. If you go on Jefferson Ave, park your car near intersection with University Ave. (Free parking on Jefferson Ave. / fee at the Garage). Walk toward the campus. Turn left at the rotunda (circle) and go on Commons Way to the 1st building on the right French Hall. Go in and take the elevator to the 4th floor. As you get out of the elevator, turn left to end of hall and then left again to end of hall and then right. Follow the signs. Look for rooms 4614/4616.

Unless you display a UC decal, do not park on campus streets, or you risk getting a ticket.

Important Note: At times, Campus Security might lock the doors on Commons Way. If you find it to be the case, just go around the building, counterclockwise 180°, and use the other door.

For MapQuest or Google:

French Hall’s actual address is 2815 Commons Way, but for MapQuest or Google enter the former address,

2824 Scioto Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.

Reservations are required, and we ask those who come, to bring an appetizer or beverage to share.

Please e-mail Chair Sandi Kivkovich for reservations: sandikivi2@cinci.rr.com

or call (513) 861-0004.

CPI Playwriting Salon is a new “initiative” for Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative: to explore the feasibility of providing a creative forum that focuses on the issues and challenges of vital interest to members -- the art and craft of playwriting.

Content of Creative Meetings

The format and content of these creative meetings can be anything we choose to make them.

1. Cold Readings / Feedback

The principal value of cold readings is that they are easy to set up and require no rehearsal time, yet they can provide valuable feedback.

Presenting playwrights must be CPI Members, but event is open to the public.

All are completed scripts.
Volunteer actors read the play, doubling roles as necessary.
We can schedule two short works in one cold-reading session, with feedback after each.

2. Playwriting Workshop (Members only)

Smaller group meets to solve problems in their scripts-in-progress [excerpts, too].

3. Guest Speakers

There’s a real value to inviting guest artists to speak to us: it can provide valuable learning about their talents and areas of expertise, strengthen our ties to the local theater community, and let others learn more about CPI.

A director might speak to us about the challenges of casting and directing a new play. Production traps. Subject matter.
An actor might describe the thinking and emotional process involved in creating a new character.
An artistic director might describe the fiscal risk in presenting a new play.

4. Creative Cabaret – A night of “anything goes”

Why not schedule an experimental night for any type of new work? Short scenes from a script-in-progress, 10-minute plays, “saloon tunes,” monologues, musical scenes, Improv -- a kind of “out loud“ creative brainstorming session strictly for fun, a way to get to know each other, but maybe to learn something too about taking chances and expanding our horizons.

5. Exploring Self and Co-Production: A Local Theater And CPI

Exploring co-producing venture with another theater, sharing in the overhead cost of the box office, lights, sound, etc.

At the same breath, Exploring Self-Production, as a reward venue for best scripts-in-progress presented at New Voices Series.

6. Festival Of New Plays, Co-Production

“Staged Readings of The Best Plays from the New Voices Series.”

The idea is to select the best plays from recent New Voices Series and

present them as staged readings in a “Cincinnati Playwrights Festival.”

7. Etc . . .

We can schedule whatever new ideas we come up with as we learn more from the process.

MORE TO COME . . .

Always

Always Under Construction